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Mistaken Identity

Hi, I'm pretty freaked out by a phone call I just had from my car insurance company.

They said a claim has been made against me and gave my car registration number. Apparently, my car was involved in an accident in Manchester on 12th December at 10.30am when it pulled out onto a main road and crashed into another vehicle. The male driver got out and gave the other driver a piece of paper with a male name and car registration written on before driving away.

The problem is that I am the only person who drives my car and am the only person insured to drive it. I have the only key to the car and am the only person who can access it. I live nowhere near Manchester and have never been to Manchester. The name given on the slip of paper is not a name of anyone I know but it is my registration.

The insurance company didn't have any record of the make, model or even colour of the car - all they have is the registration number and an unknown name. They weren't even sure if the police were called.

What do I do now? I felt quite intimidated on the phone and they asked to speak to any male drivers in my house (there arn't any) and they asked questions about whether I have had any recent repairs or damage to the car (which I haven't).

The insurance company phoned back about an hour later and asked where exactly I was on that day at that time. To be honest, I can't remember exactly but I only use the car as a run around and since I purchased it 3 months ago, I have only travelled 200 miles in it. Manchester is a lot further than that.

What will happen now? How can I prove it wasn't my car involved in the crash?
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Comments

  • olly300
    olly300 Posts: 14,736 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    The insurance company just want to see if you are lying so it's a case of you being honest. Just tell them exactly where you were and who you were with around the time of the accident. Obviously it's far easier if you were at work.

    BTW it's odd the person crashed into didn't take down the details of the other vehicle.
    I'm not cynical I'm realistic :p

    (If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)
  • olly300 wrote: »
    The insurance company just want to see if you are lying so it's a case of you being honest. Just tell them exactly where you were and who you were with around the time of the accident. Obviously it's far easier if you were at work.

    BTW it's odd the person crashed into didn't take down the details of the other vehicle.


    Well yes, I thought that was very odd as well. The insurance company were very sketchy with the details. They said all they had was the drivers name and registration number of the car which caused the accident. They didn't know the make and model or colour of my car, they didn't know if any police were called, and why would someone hand over a piece of paper with a name and registration number on but no phone number or address or contact details? If I had been involved in a crash, I would have taken my own notes, such as the make, colour and registration of the other vehicle involved just in case. But it seems that the injured party didn't take any details at all themselves.

    All seems very strange to me.
  • vax2002
    vax2002 Posts: 7,187 Forumite
    Dont do anything, let them worry about it.
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • vax2002 wrote: »
    Dont do anything, let them worry about it.

    I will do. I just have this sneaking feeling that I'm going to be harrassed by this insurance company and it will have some effect on my renewal premium.

    Hope not.
  • olly300
    olly300 Posts: 14,736 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    winegums wrote: »
    Well yes, I thought that was very odd as well. The insurance company were very sketchy with the details. They said all they had was the drivers name and registration number of the car which caused the accident.

    They can't give you that information about the accident as they need to confirm whether you were there or not. If they gave you this information you could concoct a story if you were involved.

    So as long as you state where you were around the time of the accident, who you were with and what you were doing you will be fine.
    I'm not cynical I'm realistic :p

    (If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)
  • olly300 wrote: »
    They can't give you that information about the accident as they need to confirm whether you were there or not. If they gave you this information you could concoct a story if you were involved.

    So as long as you state where you were around the time of the accident, who you were with and what you were doing you will be fine.
    Hang on. You are talking about giving an alibi as if the OP was a criminal suspect. Whilst it might help depending on the quality of the erks at the OPs insurer, the OP isn't obliged to prove his whereabouts to them.

    If I was the OP my next call would be to the police force covering the alleged accident location and to report an insurance fraud in progress.
  • If I was the OP my next call would be to the police force covering the alleged accident location and to report an insurance fraud in progress.[/QUOTE]

    Really? I wouldn't have thought of doing that. I don't even know if the Police were called to the accident. What would I say to them? The thought did cross my mind that the insurance company stated the accident happened when my vehicle pulled out onto a main road causing a collision - wouldn't there be CCTV or witnesses?

    What do others think? Should I phone the Manchester Traffic Police?
  • Oh, and by the way, the driver of the car was a young male - I am a 40ish female, so why would I need to prove where I was on that day?
  • ariba10
    ariba10 Posts: 5,432 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If the request is from your insurance company I would certainly respond to it.

    You could well have a hike in your premium on the next renewal.
    I used to be indecisive but now I am not sure.
  • ariba10 wrote: »
    If the request is from your insurance company I would certainly respond to it.

    You could well have a hike in your premium on the next renewal.

    The request was from my insurance company and I have given them as much information as I can, eg, That is my registration, I have never driven to Manchester, no-one else is insured to or permitted to drive my car, I have the only key which is not accessible by anyone else, there hasn't been any recent damage to or repairs to my car, on the day in question the car was parked all day in my driveway and I do not know anyone by the name given as the driver. The driver was a young male and I'm an older female. Since I purchased the car a few months ago, I have travelled a total of 200 miles in it - to travel to Manchester and back would be more than 200 miles in one single round trip.

    What else can I do?
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